Eneid was, in the first instance, selected for the purpose.

He now prepared to execute his design."

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The following copy of Mr. Wakefield's printed proposals will explain his plan, and may possibly afford some useful hints to future Lecturers.

Lectures on Virgil, by Gilbert Wakefield, B. A.

IT has been suggested by some judicious friends, that Lectures on a principal classic author of antiquity, as unexceptionable in their subject, useful in their tendency, and unconnected with a all political and theological opinions, would not be unfavourably received by the public.

In consequence of this suggestion Mr. WAKEFIELD sproposes to read LECTURES ON VIRGIL; an author of such preeminent accomplishments, as render him peculiarly adapted to the purpose: and the Second Eneid is selected accordingly for this experiment.

These Lectures will be philological, critical, and explanatory; as intelligible and simple as is consistent with novel and interesting information; unfolding and illustrating whatever respects the etymologies, the proprieties, the energies, and the elegancies of expression; the peculiarities of composition; the construction and the beauty of the numbers; with such Coccasional illustrations from other authors, Greek and Latin, as may seem likely to promote the general objects of this undertaking.s a. onbel Young scholars, tolerable proficients in school discipline, will receive most benefit from these Lectures, with such students of the classics, more advanced in years, whose education has been defective, or who may be desirous, after a long interruption of these studies, to renew and improve their know

The season was too far advanced to encourage the expectation of a numerous audience; but it was thought advisable to make the experiment, in order that the public, by a knowledge of what was to be expected from such a course, might be better prepared for the renewal of it in the next year.

An undertaking of this kind, supported by such acknowledged powers of execution, was a novelty in the metropolis, of a pleasing and promising nature. From the literary taste and character of our countrymen, it might reasonably be expected, that a considerable -interest would be gradually excited by a public lecture, undertaken in illustration of the most celebrated writers of antiquity by a scholar and critic so equal to the office. To many descriptions of persons such instructions must prove highly acceptable and useful; and all by whom they were attended in the present instance, notwithstanding the supposed triteness of the subject, will readily acknowledge the high degree of satisfaction they expe

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ledge in classic literature. It is presumed also, that the Lecturer's long and diligent attention to such subjects may render his performance not wholly uninstructive to scholars of superior proficiency, who may be induced to give their attend'ance from an opinion, on the importance of classical informa"tion, congenial with his own.

rienced. For a public instructor, Mr. Wakefield was eminently qualified. The variety of his information, his correct and lively taste, with the assistance of his retentive memory, supplied a copious store of materials for the ready illustration of every beauty, and every difficulty... Tegemist o >b. ait GA

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bas The delivery of these lectures occupied his attention till the beginning of July. He then finished the first course, designing to resume them in the ensuing spring. But, in the midst of the congratulations of his friends on his recovered liberty, and his own plans for futurity, he began to feel the symptoms of a disorder, which quickly put an end to his valuable life.

How far his constitution, though appar rently still firm, had sustained any serious in jury by a confinement of two years, it is, perhaps, impossible to state with any degree of confidence. Certain it is, however, that, after his liberation, he was by no means equal to those exertions of body, which he had previously sustained without any inconvenience. w As his lectures were delivered in London, the fatigue of this employment was materially increased by his walks from Hackney, during a season unusually warm. He was likewise unfortunately much occupied during the inter

val of his lectures in going about in search of a permanent residence for his family, blad 91Though he felt himself occasionally indis+ posed by the fatigue which he underwent, the was not at all aware of any serious conse quences from this sudden change in his habits of life, till the latter end of August.

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About the middle of that month one of the present writers visited him at Hackney, and was highly gratified by his appearance of health and spirits. On the 21st, he received a letter from him, which indicated nothing of the sad change which was approaching. On the 27th of August, however, in a letter addressed to both his daughters, then on a visit at Rich mond, (a letter peculiarly valued by them, as the last he ever wrote) he says, "I was more indisposed last night, than I have been for some years, in a burning fever and excessive heat of the head; and so I continued through the greater part of this day, but am better tonight" about on 40 254 al 2002 out end 9% Two or three days passed before he thought himself so seriously indisposed as to require medical aid. Mr. Toulmin of Hackney now attended him. His friend Dr. Pett, with unremitting anxiety, watched the progress of his disorder.... Dr. Lister and Dr. Wm. Hamilton

very generously exerted their skill in his behalf. But every effort of art or attention was found to be in vain. His disorder, which was a typhus fever, after a very few days made rapid advances. His head was soon affected, though, even through this cloud over his intellects, his language occasionally discovered the taste of the scholar and the piety of the Christian. At length, disabled by his disorder from gratifying his friends with his conversation, he still appeared to know them, and but a very few hours before he expired, he expressed to one of the present writers his recollection of their friendship, in a manner which he cannot easily forget, "while memory holds her place."

Of the commencement and early progress of our friend's indisposition, we are not able to speak from our personal knowledge, as we were absent in the country, and knew not of his danger till three days before his death, when we hastened to offer him our assistance, but could do little more than mingle our unavailing regrets with those of his family and

friends.

One of the medical gentlemen, whom we have just mentioned, and who we are persuaded never regretted the imperfection of his art more